That’s because he’s a spry 88 years old. On Wednesdays, he nips up to Nakiska with his ski buddies, many of whom are his junior in years. The former newspaper and corporate photographer plans to get out at least 10 times this year.

Not that Jack hasn’t slowed down. He gets in “only” nine runs a day rather than the 12 or 15 he did in his late 70s. “Everybody says I ski too fast,” he chuckles.

While they may have lost a step or two, no one would ever dare tell these 70- and 80-something schussers they shouldn’t ski. They click into their skis and hit the slopes all winter long, sometimes five days in a row. For most of them, it’s something they’ve done occasionally or frequently most of their lives. They don’t let achy joints, or even hip or knee replacements — sometimes both — sideline them from the slopes.

Come November, you’ll find them carpooling together down the TransCanada for a day of skiing in the Rockies, or on a bus in a larger group heading farther afield to Fernie, Kimberley, Silver Star and Sun Peaks in B.C.

All of them are active — some more than others — members of the Calgary Seniors’ Alpine Ski Club — which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in March.

Marilyn Feddersen, 75, has been a member of the Alpine Seniors Ski Club for about nine years.Calgary

Marilyn Feddersen, 75, has been a member for about nine years. She joined after retirement and was looking for a group to ski with. (The membership is open to anyone 55 and over).

“It’s so much fun with a group; it challenges me to do things I might not do on my own,” says Feddersen, who doesn’t let a torn rotator cuff cramp her style too much. She’s signed on for six, multi-day ski trips with the club this winter.

Feddersen says she’s a much better skier these days than when she was younger because she’s built up her confidence. She loves to ski the glades, powder and moguls, but stays away from double blacks.

“I just have to get out and enjoy because I don’t know how long I’ll be able to do it.”

That refrain of seizing the ski day wherever you can is common among the seniors.

Meanwhile, De Lorme’s stamina still impresses his doctor.

“My doctor skis, and he still marvels (at me). I go in for my checkup in the middle of November and he looks at me and says, ‘Are you skiing this year?’ ”

De Lorme tells his doc the chances are good, “And he says to me, ‘I hope I can do that when I’m your age.’”

Like De Lorme, Tom Jaeger heads out on Wednesdays for some green runs, the one day his son-in-law takes over to look after his wife who has Alzheimer’s and lives in a care centre.

Jaeger’s doctor tells him to keep going. “They are a little envious of me. You get to my age, what else are you going to say, stop?” He’s had both knees and a hip replaced.

Dr. Scott Timmermann encourages elderly people with replaced joints to keep active. The Calgary orthopedic surgeon has been doing knee and hip replacements for more than 20 years

“I caution on it,” Timmermann says of skiing after hip or knee replacements. “But I appreciate their passion … they’ve been skiing all their lives.

“What I say likely won’t change their pursuit of skiing, but perhaps they can modify how they’ve skied in the past.”

Timmermann recommends people with hip or knee replacements stick to less busy days like mid-week and stay on the groomed runs.

“The most difficult thing is to tell them your days of double-black diamonds runs should be considered over because they don’t have much rotational mobility,” he says.

Timmerman didn’t always approve of post-surgery skiing. “But there needs to be an understanding of the boundaries of the implant … if you overload … the circumstances can be catastrophic.”

Peter Spear, 78 was a ski patroller at Lake Louise Ski Area last month for 45 years.Calgary

Unless of course, you’re Peter Spear, 78. He had a total knee replacement nine years ago. He started as a ski patroller at Lake Louise in 1962 and retired about a decade ago. An avid outdoorsman, he was also part of the first Canadian ascent of Everest in 1982.

Spear still skis 30 to 40 days a year, including cross-country. Two years after his surgery, he skied 52 days and last year jetted to Japan for a 10-day skiing trip and did 12 days in Austria a few years before that.

“I haven’t had to change my skiing at all (after my knee replacement). It was awkward the first few months because the muscles are badly stretched after (surgery). Now, I don’t even notice it.”

He was skiing within eight or nine months of his knee replacement.

Spear still tackles black diamond runs, but less so the doubles. “Double black diamonds at my age is the problem … the fear of falling … I want to stay confident in my skiing and reduce the risks.”

Minimizing the chance of falling is smart post-surgery, says David Lindsay, a physiotherapist specializing in post hip and knee surgery rehabilitation at the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre.

The key is to start slow and easy.

“Whenever anyone returns (to skiing), there is a bit of risk. The initial few times your whole mantra is ‘I am not allowed to fall.’ If you go to the hill with that mindset … that means you will choose things that are not a great risk … Groomed run or saying, I’m going to quit now.”

As a person’s confidence builds you can start to ramp things up a bit, says Lindsay. “It’s not written in a text this or that is not allowed.”

Surgeries are constantly improving. New techniques, such as the anterior approach and Birmingham hip resurfacing (not a replacement) do less damage to the muscles, says Lindsay. “It’s allowed people to return to their activities sooner.”

Cycling on flats roads can be done as soon as six to eight weeks, he says, which is also a great way to get into condition for skiing.

Staying fit and active is the key, these senior skiers agree. They golf, cycle or hike in summer, and exercise regularly.

“You’ve got to keep active; just keep trying,” De Lorme says.

It’s what keeps him motivated to get back to the ski hill every year. Well, that and the chicken wings and beer with his friends at the end of the day in the lodge.

Jack DeLorme, in red in the middle of the back row middle, sharing some apres ski refreshments with some of Senior Alpine Ski members. Courtesy, Angelo DalcinCalgary

JOIN THE CLUB

The Calgary Seniors’ Alpine Ski Club celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. To mark the birthday, it’s holding a gathering March 2, from 1:30 to 4 p.m., at the King’s Head Pub in Calgary. (315 9116 Macleod Trail South)

How to join: You must be 55 or older. Membership costs $20 annually. You do not have to live in Calgary to join and there are members from all over the world.

What you get: The 370-member club offers weekly ski trips, such as Wednesdays at Nakiska with apres ski gatherings at 2 p.m. in the Finish Line Lounge. Carpooling is encouraged and you can sign up on the carpooling page at http://www.seniorsalpinskiclub.com Multi-day ski trips with bus transportation are also offered regularly throughout the winter.

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